TAXONOMY
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Percidae (Perches)

Genus/species:  Perca flavescens 

Yellow Perch 3270754327_18c03d6f85_b

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Background color yellowish
overlaid by 6–8 dark vertical bars on the sides. Sexual dimorphism: females grow faster and become larger than males. Max. size: ~50 cm (20 inches), common length 19 cm (7.5 inches).

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: West central Canada and the Hudson Bay area east to New Brunswick, south to South Carolina, and west to Kansas. Also found in the Atlantic, Arctic, and Great Lakes. Found in freshwater lakes as well as impoundments of larger rivers, also smaller ponds and rivers. Known in both brackish water and salt lakes. Prefers clear water, though can tolerate low oxygen levels.

DIET IN THE WILD: P. flavescens have small backward slanting teeth lining the jaws and gill rakers that strain out small pelagic food sources from the water such as insects, larger invertebrates, fishes and fish eggs. Diurnal feeder.

PREDATORS: Fishes and birds.

LONGEVITY: To 12 years.

CONSERVATION: IUCN Not listed but fishing has been restricted in some Great kale states do to fluctuating populations.

REMARKS: Marketed as a common food fish with a commercial fishery in Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Huron.

Water Planet, Water Temperature (perch under ice) WP10

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